Type-writing machine.



B. W. TUCKER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION mm DEC. 4. 1 915.

Patented Oct. 8,1918;

3 SHEETS-SHEET lfig his away.

B. w. TUCKER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.4. I915. R

1,281,101. Patented Oct. 8; 191&

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .ra x m. y

f 1 .6. Tucker B. w TUCKER.

TYPE wam-m; emes; APPLICATION men no.4. i'i'i's'.

' H Patented 001;. 8, 19-18.

3 SHEETS-SHE 3.

3 mg machines, and is a division of my ap No. 820,244, filed February "connection to be maintained between the thepartsoperated by the keyboard and the keyboard-itself, and-which mechanism may.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

BENJAMIN W. TUCKER, 0E sou'rn cannon, nEw JERSEY, Assmnoauo CORONA 'IYPEWRITER COMPANY, 11m, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification 01 Letters lfatent.

Patented 001;. s, 191s.

Original application filed February 21, 1914,8eri'a1 No. 820,244. Divided and this animation filed Dcembi 4, 1915. Serial m. 65,034.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN W. TUCKER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Orange, county of Essex, and State 5 of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writlnp 7 Machines, of which the following is a ful clear, andexact description.

This invention relates more particularly to foldable,'vis'ible or front strike typewritplicatio'n $er'ial 21, 1914.1;

One of the'p'rincipal features of the present invention is to provide a typewriting machine in which an ncloslng case forms the 'frame' and support for the mechanism and parts of the typewriter and which is of such a construction that astandard or universaljkeyhpard may be mounted thereon to operate theusuiil typewriter mechanism and when not, in, use the cover of the case or support with the keys including the key parts of the ,spacing-and'case shift mechanisms may be folded upward to make the machine compactand to add-pt the mechanism to be,

,inclosed within the case,

Another object of the inventlon is to proepacingiand case shiftgmeans a part ofwhich :-.-pa rtindependent of the case.

support which serves alsoas a pivot for the f0 ding movement of all of the "keys of the keyboard, and which permits a positive i asto form aipe'rman'ent part thereof or in a frame which isadapte'd to be placed within the usual carrying case. I

O-ther objects of the invention are to provide a case forminga support forftheparts of mtype'writingmachine; to provide a case 'vide a universal keyboard including the 80, imayb e lnounted upon a foldable member -;1forming a part of the in'closing case orflas a which is so constructed that the entire mecha person as a part machine which acter wherein the 'typediars may be given either a pull or a push, action during the printing movement of the A still further object of the invention is to provide a key action which is simple in parts of the keyrlever or key-operated levers connected together in such way that'on the type. i

'70 construction and in which the key-operated depression of a key both parts will be operated, but which permits the key with one part of thekey-operated lever to be folded 1 to an. inoperative position to make the machine compact.

With these and other objects in view, the p IHVWltlOIr will be hereinafter'more particularlydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this I r I application, and will then be pointed out in further, ob'jec'tof the invention is tothe claims at the end of the description. In the drawings,'Figure 1 isja plan view of one form, of machine'embodying the invention, showing a constructio wherein the cap, cover, or top section of the case is hinged at the rear, and the keyboard support or member hinged or pivoted at the front to adapt the latter to be folded upwardly and rear-' ward andto be inclosed within, the cover.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation otthe machine in position for use, the top or cover being,

partly broken away and showin in dotted lines the position of the cover an keys when i the machine is compact Fig. 3 1s a vertical transverse section of the key action and certain parts of the mechanism of themachine, other parts of the ma- .chine being removed.- I v Figb l'is a detail enlarged section ofone of the key-operated levers in position for use.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the key and a part of one of the key-operated levers moved to a folded position.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of one of the keylevers in a depressed position.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 4, except that the key has been" depressed.

Fig. 8 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, showing the key action' modified so that on the depression of a key the type-bar is moved with a pull action lnstead'of a push action as in Figs. 1. and 2.

The case 10 may comprise a main member 11 and a top member 12, the latter being hinged at 13 to the main member 11 at the upper and rear edge thereof, and is adapted to be moved forward over the main member 11 on the hinge 13 to the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to make when closeda regular and substantially uniform box-like package.

I A support or fulcrum rod 14 extends transversely ofthe machine and at its ends is mounted in brackets 15 in which latter the said rod may be held by screws 16 or in any .otherdesired way. A keyboard frame or' support 17 of a substantially U-shaped'construction is p'ivotally mounted upon the rod 14 in such a way-that it inay be unfolded to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 to 3, or may be folded upwardlyancl rearward to the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, said keyboard frame or member being held when in a normal working position substantially horizontally. The rod 14 has mounted thereon a number of levers 18. These levers 18 comprise two parts 18 and 18 The part 18 is provided with a key 19 at one end thereof, and is normally retained in one position by a spring20 one end of which is attached to the part 18 andthe other end 'to a transversely extending bar 21, said bar 21 extending between the, sides of the keyboard frame or member 17. The part 18 has a substantially U-shaped portion 22 having parts thereof provided with apertures and through which the rod 14 passes so as to provide a substantial bearing for the key-operated part 18. Thispart22 .isprovided with an extension or projection 23 which is adapted to engage an extension or projection 24 of the key-operated part 18 when the key 19 is depressed and moves thepart 18 on-.the pivot rod 14 as shown best in Fig. 7. The extension 24 is formed on a substantially U-shaped-part 25 ofthe lever part or member 18 and said part 25 ver parts or members 18* while substantially positively connected with the parts 18', and for all practical purposes are positively connected when in operative position, still the knuckle or knee-joint connections between the two permit all the )arts 18 of the keyoperated levers to be olded upwardly and rearward with the keyboard frame or member 17 out of operative connection with the parts 18 as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The levers are arranged in banks or groups as 26, 27 and 28, this number varying according to, the number of keyoperated levers employed and whether or not a. single or double case shift is em loyed. The parts or levers 18 of the diEerent groups are under this construction of different lengths to adapt. the keys to be positioned properly, and the parts or levers 18 of the he -operated levers may be also of different ligths, so that the same force will be required to depress the keys of the different groups and in this way a. substantially uniform touch is obtained.

Each keyroperated lever part or lever 18 is connected by a link 29 to a projecting portion, as 30, located at the inner andunder part of a type-bar 31, there being a typebar for each link and for each two-part keyopei'ated lever. The type-bars 31 are pivoted at 32 to hangers 33 or to a segment as preferred, and at their outer ends are provided with type blocks or heads 34 on each of which are type representing upper and lower case characters and figures according to whether a single or double case shift is employed. The type-bars are arranged ina of. each spring being attached to one of the fits about the part 22 to permit the latter .to move within the same, said part 25 havingarmrtured parts through which the rod 14 passes and which parts are connected by a tie-bar, as 25, and provide a substantial bearing for the part or member 18" The lelinks 29 and the other end-to atransversely extending bar 40 for the shorter lever-\parts,' or by springs 41 one end of each of which is attached to each of the longer partsof the.

key-operated levers and the'other 'endof said springs to a transversely 'ex tending bar 42.

A space-bar 43 is mounted upon the outerends of two two-part space levers 44. The

space levers 44 arepivotally mounted upon the transversely extending pivot rod' 14 and have knuckle or knee joints between the two parts thereof of the'same construction as the key-operated levers 18, said spacing levers having one part thereof bent at an angle as at 45 so as to extend from the inner portion thereof outward and in such a way as to be'mounte'd upon therod 14. Each.

member 11 and. suitably guided thereon. An 'lide or post speot to each otl'.

space lever is connected by a link 46 to an arm 47 of a lever 418. Each lever 48 mounted upon transversely extending rod 49 and. has one arm as 50 eonneoted to one end of a sprlngol, the other end 01: sa d spring being held to a. transversely extendingbar 52. Eaeh lever 4.8 has an arm 53, the

mechanism both for feeding the ribbon lengthw and for vibrating the ribbon to cover and uneover the print. point or to permit the ribbon to remain inactive for steneiling purposes. The esoapeinent nieehanism, the ribbon mechanism and the par ticular parts for operating these features by which the earriiztge is given a letter-spaeing movement and by which the printing et footed in visible Wr' ing" machines may he of. the usual or of any preferred eonstrur tion and form no part oi. the present invention, it being understood that. the ear riage suitably mounted to travel transversely of the machine upon a support 59 or otherwise and controlled. by the es capelnent mechanism during ll As the space bar l3 is.

letter-spew ing move .int. moved 1t 11], operate the links 45, and these links Wlll operate the levers 4:8 and through the latter move'the universal barby whioh the es apemen t tripped and the 'earriage moved a letter space in the usual way.

The slilpport 59,-forn1ing the bed for the platen carriage 38, is adapted to be given a vertieal. movement to adapt the type heads to have a plurality of eh'raoters thereon. As shown the support 59 is held to slides or p 60 i'l'iounted to move vertically at the rear ri 'ht and left portions of the main arm 61 connected.v to each G0 atone end and at the other end held to the rod. 49. An arm. 62 operatively connected to one or both of the arms 6]. and said armhil or each, of them is com a. link 63 to a part 64 of a platen shift lever 65. There are two platen shirt ]ev( ea and 66, each of whieh provided. with akey 67 and each platen shift lever is formed in two parts. The parts of the platenshilt lever are mounted upon the transversely tending rod 14., and are foldable with ke -operatecl levels, and are .eonstrueted penient .mechanlsm not shown, and suitable ribbon as the ease with the with lmuokle or knee-joint eomieetion to at to. the

of each of said le roll. as the letter spacing nieehamsln tleseiibed is not hown in detail and forms no part of the present invei'ition, except-so farae two-part levers form a part of the uuiv t l or tamlard lazy-hoard. and so far their lnoun ng upon the eon'nnon rod 14 concerned whereby a part of each shift and ;)aoe lever may par take of the l'" q" n'niveiient 0f the shpport or 1'1- though ins oil? a den! e ease shift it to be unders JUtl that a. single platen or type ease shiftinay be employed, It will be evident tht the rod. lflforms the pii' 'ot for the so u t 17 and. for the spaee'lever hey-r ier: dleve or the type, and the sh ft level and the ."ots'there fore, of all th 55 are in alinement It will be evident further tl" t. by re 'son of the knee or. lmmjtrkle joint or n tion bet on the two-part levers for t in type, the platen shift and the spacing means one pa rt of eaeh of said levers, for ex inpl that part which I forivard ada .1] to fold up lly with the he he; "d Lt'ranie 1.7 so that all. thoee par1== that projeet beyond. the ll oi. the ease only be made to ex tend ii'nvanil ov the t; hr e in olose relation. to tl' the case.

In Fig.

Fl, the eonstrlmtirm is substant' l the same a hown in Figs. 1 to T era 1 that auxiliary levers 69" are eonneetcnl by links 7(1) to arr d1 o nn'ated bythe hey levers and spat ng and shift lev 'llm levers 39 at their lower e'lnls are lily linlrs 753 no that in t being given to the typ u bars lutve a pulling notion through the linhs a I From the foregoing it will evident tlnit eona,

Q i simple and efficient means is provided bars mounted on the main section, key-op whereby a simple and efiicient foldable visierated levers mounted on both members a ble typewriting machine is provided which part of which partake of the folding movehas means for mounting the parts of the ment of the front in either and means form keyboard upon a common fulcrum or pivot ing a direct connection between the typeconnection in-such a way as to adapt the bars and key'dperated levers. various mechanisms to be operated by the 5. In a visible typewriting machine, the keys when the machine is in its normal opcombination if a fold'able support, a platen erative or unfolded position; that no disorcarriage, type ba rs maintained in cooperae ganization or'manual disconnection of any tive relation ftoithegcarriage, keys one for of the parts is required to fold or unfold the each type-baf-pivotally held on one part of parts; that a machine embodying the foldable principle disclosed permits the machine to be made very compactgthat all ,of

the parts of the machine may be inclosed in a carrymg case which also forms a frame for the different parts of the typewriter,

or the case may be independent of the supporting frame; and that said machine may have its parts light yet strong to adapt the machine to be easilytransported; and that said machine may be readily made and as- 'sembled.

hinge of one of the sections to fold there with and connected to said links.

In a typ rwriting machine, the combination of a. ,support comprising a plurality of relatively foldable members, a platen carriage mounted on one member of the support, type bars maintained in normal operative relation to the carriage and mounted on one of the support members, key levers one for each type-bar having a common mounting at a point coincident with the line of fold between two of the support members and adapted to fold and unfold with one of'said members, and means forming a connection between the type bars and key levers.

3. In a visible typewriting machine, the combination of a support comprising a plurality of relatively foldable members, a platen carriage, type-bars maintained in normal operative relation to the .carriage and having an upward andrearward movement, key-levers one fOlj each type-bare mounted on the same member of the support as the type-bars and connected to fold with another member of thesupport, and means forming a connection with the typebalrs and the key-levers.

4. In a visible tyl'icwriting machine, the rombiuation of a platen carriage, a two-part support comprising a main member and a front member hinged to the main member to fold upward and over the same, typesaid support and foldable with another part of the support toward theplaten carriage, and means forming a connection between each type-bar and one of the keys.

6. In a visibletypewriting machine, the F0 combination of a support, a platen carriage, type-bars having an upward and rearward movement and maintained, in cooperative relation to the platen carriage, a universal keyboard having a two-part key-operated lever for each type-bar one part of each lever being folda-ble with respect to the other and all having a common mounting, and means forming a positive connection between the type-bars and the key-operated levers.

In a visible typew'riting machine, the combination of a support, a platen carriage, type-bars, a unidersal keyboard having a two-part hinged key-operated lever for each type-bar one part of which is-movable into, compact relation with the platen carriage, and means forming a positive connection between the type'bars and the key-operated levers. v

In a visible typewriting machine in which the type-bars move upwardly and rearwardly,a frame; having a main frame member and a foldable frame member hinged to the main frame member at'the forward part thereof, two-part key-operated 106 levers pivotally held uponthe main frame I member and forming a part of a keyboard, I and'means whereby the key part of each key-operated lever will move the other part when in an unfolded position and which will permit the ke part "of said levers to fold with thefolda le frame member. and an inoperative connection withthe means operated maintained.

9. Ina typewriting machine, the combinat'ron of a foldable support, a platen, typebars movable toward and from" the platen, and two-part hinged and pivoted keyzoperated levers operatively connected to the type-bars, one for each type-bar, one partof all of the levers being movable with one member of the support while the other part of said levers remains in cooperative relation to thetype-bars. y

i 10.- In a typewriting machine, the combination of a foldable support, a platen, type-bars movable, toward and from the platen, and two-part hinged key-operated levers having common. point of support for both purl;s and olgierutively connected to the,

type-lmrs, one for each type-bar, the key part; of all. of the lovers being toldable with 5 one menilber of the support while the other part of said levers remains in o .perutive rrzilntion to the type-hers, suid ports of the levers while connected being adopted to operute the tyjgie-hers by the key only when the keys are en unfohlcd pol. tion. 1.1. In it typewriting machine, the com- :lllll'li'lliilOIl of" support having foldnhle member and a nornmlly stuticjmznry member, type-hurs, no rochsupported in the nornnxlly stationery i'nernber, liey-o iiereted levers mounted upon the rod and operetively connected to the tv e hursone her, said levers having two part one oi. which remains in cooperative relation to thetype-hurs' end the other part pertaining of the foldhg niloven'ient oi? the sup'lfmrt.

12. In a typewriting imucl'linen the combimition of t'v we, a pie en carriage, mid twopnrt foldnhle key eruted levers all pivotelly held upon e r mmon support and in alinement, one part of each key operstcd lever beingfoldnbletoward the platen. cerri'u c to on inoperntivc end compact p si tion.

13. Ina tyi'ie'w, binetionof type b key-o1w1ntcd It n :)l:1ten pearl-nigger, and heving a plural of .Y imits connected together to perl'nlt one pert to fold with re pect to another. and links opcrntively connecting the type-bars and levers. v

14;. In a typcwriting; nmchine, the co1nbination of type, a pin on curriuge, and hey opernted levers lowing mrtst mu l ,1-

ther in pairs to permit one part to o to n compact position with 1 v :1 u, one part of ouch lever being operutively connected to nu 'e a t i v.

15. In u ty n i' H nmchine, the comhinntion of type-hers, n pl alien carriage end twoq'mrt h :orm'ruted. levers lowing it coinmon nlincd fulcrum about which the two opioid ports of each lever being l'elutc 'ely to'ldnbh end o inu'ehly col. iectcd in one position only, nnd means com ouchtype-bun to one part of said levers 16. In a typcwriting miurhine, a type, :1 rod mol'mted on the supper [luti ly folduhle two-pert key-operated nmvnhle about the rod us :1 pivotuml opcrn 'cly connm l to the type.

1f In :1 iypew in}; nmcl'linc. n platen carriage, u 'iwurdly nnd renr'wnrdly moving or each type tingn'iechine, the corn-- adopted to eii'lguge on the depression 01in bination of type, a platen carriage, andfolduble levers provided with keys and having a common alined suprmrt; said levers beingoperutii'ely connected to the type and mow able toward ie type and movable toward the piston carrlugeto make the mzp'chine 00m- 19. In' :1 typewriting machine, the Scornbimltion of it support having relatively I;l ld

levers moitlntecl. upon 'saidrod, eac -;com-.,

prising two ,i'nembers, each ha vingprojectrons adapted to engage on the de ressionof a key to move both parts of t e key-ope tited levers in 1.1I1IS011'""()'F to permit one part of each key-operated lever to be moved relatively to the other to en inoperative position, said key-operated leversbeing arranged in groups and the pnrtsof the levers being oi. relativelydiiiicrent lengths to adapt the keys toheve touch, u platen carriage, type n mble upward and IQELIWflltl toward the platen carriage, und operative connections between the type end the k yuniiereted levers;

20. In a t u vrjiting machine the com b inetion of nhle members, nrod mounted upon one of said members and forming a pivot for another lnemher of said support,key-operated levers each comprising'two members each mmimted on. the rod, and having projections adapted to engage on thedepression of a key to move both parts of, the keyperutecl levers in unison or to-pcri'nit one part ofkeyoperated lever to be moved relaother member of said support; key-operated levers mounted upon sen rod each c'ompms-v mg two members, each having proiec tlons key to move both Jnrts of the key-operated levers in in'lison or to permitone part of each key (merat'ed lever tohe moved relatlvelyto the other, a platen carriage, type movable up type and the key-operated levers.v

e substz'lntinlly uniform v i vcly to the other, u platen carriage, type,

s pport-havingrelatively foldever-(fl amt rearward toward the platen car Huge, and operative connectlonshetween then In e collapsible typewriting mnchine, the combination of nlplaten carriages suplmving a pivoted key su portin arm for each type beseech adapted to be lded'rclativelyto its associated type bar to make the machine compact when not in use, a second pivoted arm for each type bar having the port for the carriage, type bars, a key action position, and links forming positive oonnecsame pivotal point as its associated key supporting arm and operable thereby when the key-supporting arm is in its unfolded tions between the type barsgand said second pivoted arms.

23. In a collapsible typewriting machine,

the combination of a support, type bars mounted on said support, a rod mounted on the support and extending transversely thereof, and foldable twopart key-operated levers movable about the r d as a pivot to operate the type bars and positively connected with the type bars.

24. In a collapsible typewriting machine, the combination of a support comprising relatively foldable parts, a platen carriage supported on one of said parts, type bars mounted on the carriage-s1ipporting part, keys pivotally supported atpoints in alinement with the point of fold of another of said parts and foldable therewith, and means forming a permanently maintained mechanical operating connection between the keys and type bars. 25. In a collapsible typewriting machine, the combination of a frame, a platen carriage supported thereon, upwardly and rearwardly movable type bars pivotally mounted in the frame, a rod mounted in the frame and extending transversely thereof, a support piy otally held at its rear end to said rodand foldable upwardly and rearwardly toward the platen carriage, and a key action comprising two-part levers all pivotally mounted on said rod and each having its parts connected by a hinge joint coincident with the pivotal point of the lever and said support, the forward parts of the levers being of difi'erent lengths and supporting keys in banks and being foldable with said support to a compact position above the type bars, and means forming constantly maintained positive operating connections between the rear parts of said levers and the type bars.

26. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a support, a platen carriage mounted therein, type bars mounted in the support, a foldable ke levers having pivoted ey-supporting arms foldable toward the platen carriage and arms connected with the type bars and having the same pivotal point as the key-supporting arms and operable by the key-suportin arms when in unfolded osition. P e

said key-supportingarms being of different lengths to support the keys in banks and the groups of arms operated by the respecaction comprising i tive banks of key-supporting arms also being of different lengths.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination of type bars, and a keyboard comprising foldable two-part levers, the parts of each lever being pivotally connected together 'to operate in unison in one positiononly, and means positively and operativel'y connecting the levers with the type bars.

' 28. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a frame, type bars mounted in the frame, arms pivotally mounted in the frame and adapted to move the type bars, key-supporting arms of different lengths arranged in groups supporting keys in banks and having a common pivotal point, a knuckle joint connection between each key-supporting arm and its cooperating type-bar-moving arm to adapt each pair of cooperating arms to be operated in unison in one direction and to fold relatively to each other when moved in another direction.

29. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a frame, a platen carriage supported therein, type bars supported in the frame, a foldable support, keys foldable with said support, means for pivotally supporting the keys in banks having a common fulcrum coincident with the point of fold of the support, and a non-separable foldable operating connection between eachtype bar and its associated pivotal key-supporting means.

30. In a, typewriting machine, the combination of a frame, a platen carriage suported therein, type bars supported in the frame, a foldable support, keys foldable to fold with said support toward the platen carriage.

31. In a typewriting machine, the combination bf a foldable support, a platen, type bars nmintained in cooperative relation to the platen, keys movable with said support into compact relation with the type bars means pivotally supporting the keys in banks and having a common fulcrum, and foldable operating means forming a positive mechanical connection between each type bar and its-associated piyoted key-supporting means in all positions of the keys.

This specification signed this-first day of December, A. D. 1915. p

BENJAMIN IV. TUCKER. 

